Phalaenopsis Orchid plant named ‘Confidence’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Confidence’ characterized by flowers which are white with a purple blush in the center and some yellow in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Confidence’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Confidence’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Confidence’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Confidence’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tom Coffey’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Pink Twilight’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Confidence’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in January, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Confidence’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with a purple blush in the center and         some yellow in the labellum.     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Confidence’, the female parent ‘Tom Coffey’, has white flowers and the male parent ‘Pink Twilight’ has violet colored flowers, whereas the flowers of the claimed variety ‘Confidence’ are white with a purple haze in the center which flows out to the edges.

Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘Confidence’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Confidence’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Confidence’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Confidence’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Confidence’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Confidence’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Confidence’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Confidence’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Confidence’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Confidence’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Confidence’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Confidence’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Confidence’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tom             Coffey’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Pink Twilight’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 5 mm-8             mm wide and green in color; freely branching. It takes 12             weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate             roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 68 cm. Spread: about 55 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; dark-green leaves and a relatively             normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 24 to 29 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 9 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: RHS 146A, at the leaf base             and on the edges red/purple RHS 59A; under side: green RHS             146A; the midvein, and the edges are RHS 187A with a haze of             RHS 187A.         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:             dark green RHS N137A; under side RHS 187A. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 22 to 28.         -   Length.—About 60 to 70 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green RHS 148A.         -   Internode.—Length: about 40 mm to 48 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 mm to 22 mm.             Diameter (at midpoint): about 13 mm to 20 mm. Shape:             egg-shaped. Color: combination between green RHS N144D and             purple RHS N74D.         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2.             Size: Height: about 50 mm. Diameter: about 70 mm. Depth of             tube: about 18 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement: Inner whorl of             petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2             lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly             cupped. Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.             Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 40 mm. Width: about 30 to             35 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under             surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper             side: White RHS NN155C, with a purple blush in the center             RHS N74D which flows out. under side: White RHS NN155C with             a purple blush RHS 76C. Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed             with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the             lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at             the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape             while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it.             Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Apex: lateral lobes:             oval. midlobe: round corners. Length: about 25 mm. Width             (not flattened): about 21 mm. Texture: Upper & under             surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper             surface: The main color is white RHS NN155C. At the base of             the lateral lobes purple/red stripes and spots RHS 72A and             at the bottom edges yellow RHS 12B with some purple/red RHS             64A. The base of the mid lobe is yellow RHS 13B with             purple/red spots RHS 72A and some RHS 76A which flows out on             to the white. The corners are also yellow RHS 13B with some             red/purple RHS 64A. Chirri are white (as main color). Under             surface: Lateral lobes are white RHS NN155C with a purple             haze RHS 75C. At the bottom some yellow RHS 8B and             red/purple RHS 64A. Midlobe is white RHS NN155C with at the             base some purple RHS N80A which flows out into RHS N80B. On             the sides some yellow RHS 14B and some red/purple RHS 64A.             Chirri: are medium size (about 11 mm). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 4 mm. Width (not flattened): about 5 mm.             Height: about 7 mm. Color: yellow RHS 13B with purple/red             spots RHS72A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Length: about 33 mm. Width: about 22 mm.             Apex: oval. Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and             satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper surface: White RHS             NN155C with a purple haze RHS 76A. At the base of the             lateral sepals are purple spots RHS N80B. under surface:             white RHS NN155C with a purple haze RHS 75A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             purple RHS 76C.         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:             orange/yellow RHS 23A.         -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             purple RHS 76C.         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 40 mm to 45 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm.             Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: Close to the flower             purple RHS 75C and white RHS N155C; close to the raceme some             brown/purple RHS 176 A; in between some green RHS 145C. -   Disease/pest resistance susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘CONFIDENCE’, as illustrated and described herein. 